Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Cricetidae
Subfamily Sigmodontinae
Calomys (Bensonomys)—Benson Vesper Mouse // Calomys (Bensonomys) arizonae—Arizona Vesper Mouse // Sigmodon—Cotton Rats
This is primarily a South American subfamily. Two genera (Sigmodon and Oryzomys) reach into the U.S., but only the cotton rats inhabit our region.
Synonyms. Bensonomys.
Calomys (Bensonomys) has variously been recognized as a subgenus of Calomys or as a separate genus, Bensonomys. A number of species of Calomys currently occur in South America, but the genus doesn't reach our region. Calomys (Bensonomys) appears to share a common ancestor with Peromyscus. With about a dozen species, Calomys (Bensonomys) is widespread in Hemphillian and Blancan deposits.
Sites.
Late Blancan: Caballo (Morgan et al. 2011).
Late Blancan/Irvingtonian: Anza-Borrego (Murray 2008).
Literature. Morgan et al. 2011; Murray 2008.
Synonyms. Bensonomys arizonae.
Sites.
Late Blancan: 111 Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); California Wash (Johnson et al. 1975); Curtis Ranch (Morgan and White 2005); Virden (Morgan et al. 2008: cf.).
Literature. Johnson et al. 1975; Morgan and White 2005; Morgan et al. 2008.
Last Update: 8 Apr 2014